Safety razor



June 3, m7. O, H LARKE 2,421,540

SAFETY RAZOR Filed Oct. 25, 1943 l%ml :h:-. E.

j I Z INVENTOR. 01/1/61? M 04 A Riff Patented June 3, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SAFETY RAZOR Oliver H. Clarke, Washington, D. 0. Application October 25, 1943, Serial No. 597,558

8 Claims.

Generically this invention relates to razors, but it more particularly relates to a razor of the afety type of simple construction and wherein the blade, head and guard means are of integral c nst u i n Qne of the principal objects of this invention is the provision of a razor constructed from an integral piece of metal bent upon itself to form a base portion and parallelly extending cutting fi es disposed in predetermined spaced relation with respect to the base portion.

important object of this invention is the provision of a double edge blade constituting a shaving head constructed from a single piece of material bent upon itself to provide a horizontal base portion including side members and oppositely extending end portions formed to provide cutting edges arranged in predetermined relation with respect to the side members, said head adapted to be held by its opposite ends for eifecting the shaving operation.

A further important object of this invention is the provision of a razor of this character, simple in construction, manufacturable at a negligible cost, wherein an integral piece of material is formed to provide a base portion including spaced guard means, and blade portions having cutting edges arranged in predeterminedly spaced relation with respect to said guard m an A still further object of this invention. is the provision of; a razor constructed from an integral piece of metal shaped and formed to provide a base portion including guard means, the free ends of said metal piece constituting blade portions formed with cutting edges predeterminedly arranged; with respect to said guard means, such formation constituting a shaving head adapted to be held, by its opposite ends for effecting the shaving: operation.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a safety razor of this character constructed from an integral piece of suitable material forming a cutting head, and where desired, the provision of a handle of wood, plastic, or other suitable material including means for effecting its ready detachable connection with said head.

With these and other objects in view, which will. become apparent as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, hereinafter moreiully described and claimed, and illustrated in. the accompanying drawings, which like characters of reference indicate like parts throughout the several figures, of which:

Fig. l is a sectional view partly in elevation on the line 2-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation or front view of a razor produced according to my invention.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged top plan view of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view partly in elevation with parts in disassociated relation with the spring member compressed.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view partly in elevation of a modified form of the invention.

Fig. 6 is a similar view to Fig. 5 with parts in disassembled relation.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary top plan view with the handle removed.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of a further simplified modification.

Fig. 9 is a cross section on the line 99 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a bottom plan View of Fig. 8.

The safety'razors with which I am familiar, and in addition to the handle, include a blade and other members constituting the razor or cutting head which must be assembled and secured in operative relation before using and disassembled and separately cleaned following their use. This construction not only increases the production cost but adds to. the discomfort and difliculty incident to the shaving operation, especially under the varying conditions of travel, and it was to overcome such disadvantages and inherent cost, and to produce a razor constructed from an integral piece of metal by bending it upon, itself to form a base portion having parallel side members and oppositely extending. end or blade portions formed with cutting edges arranged in predetermined spaced relation with respect to said side members, said side members constituting guard means and are slotted to permit the lather and cut hairs to escape instead of clogging up the blade edge, said integral construction constituting a cutting head, and, if desired a handle having means for effecting detachable connection with said base portion, that I designed the device forming the subject matter of this invention.

In the illustrated embodiment characterizing this invention there is shown a safety razor A comprising a blade I andhandle 2.

The blade I, in the present instance, is. formed from. a, one-piece strip of metal or suitable material and intermediate its. length is bent up- Wardly'at; the spaced points 3. to form the base portion 4 and the substantially vertical side members 5, and inwardly at 6 in meeting directions forming the lateral portions and at 8 bent upwardly forming the upstanding portions 9, and at I downwardly and outwardly forming the end or blade portions II, said portions terminatin in the parallelly extending sharpened or cutting edges I2 resting on or slightly spaced from the formation I3 formed in the side or guard members by slots I3 in the present instance extending inwardly beyond said side members.

While said strip may be of blade material, it also may be of soft steel or other material hardened and/or tempered along the sharpened edges I2. The ends of the blade portions I I are inclined as at II towards their cutting edges I2 and rounded at th corners I2 to obviate any likelihood of nicking the face or the hands during the shaving operation.

When thus formed said blade constitutes a shaving head or complete razor with guard means and associated cutting edges at opposite sides of the central base portion and when the ends of the head or razor are gripped or held between the thumb and forefinger it may be readily manipulated to effect the shaving operation.

However, I have provided for selective use by those desiring it, a handle 2 which may be constructed from any suitable material such as wood, plastic, or the like. An attaching and locking member I4 is mounted on and suitably secured to th upper end of handle 2 adapted to project into the end of said handle and of a shape to prevent relative twisting of said handle therewith. Said member I4 comprises a pair of normally spaced spring jaws I5 tapering on two. of their opposite sides upwardly and outwardly as at I6 and upwardly and inwardly as at H to their meeting edges and formed at their thickest points on opposite sides with slots or recesses I8 adapted to automatically engage the opposite walls of the square opening I9 when said jaws are inserted therein to rigidly interlock said handle and razor. It will be seen that the razor and handle may be snapped into locking engagement and disengaged by simply compressing the jaws as shown in Fig. 4 and withdrawing them from the opening I9.

Figs. 5, 6 and 7 illustrate a slightly modified form similar in principal and operation to that shown and described in connection with Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4, except that a different type of handle connection and somewhat simplified cutting head formation is provided. At the points 8, instead of forming the upstanding portions 9, the strip is bent upon itself forming the short curved portions and the downwardly and outwardly extending end portions 2i terminating in the parallelly extending sharpened and cutting edges I2 positioned in cutting relation with respect to the slotted guard formation l3, formed in the side members 5, similar to the form heretofore described. It will be noted that the blade end portions 2| extend downwardly at a much less angle of inclination than portions I I and th'ereby effecting a much thinner shaving head or razor structure than the form shown and described in Figs. 1 to 4, and with a consequent saving in material.

In connection with the latter form the manner of attaching and securing the handle to the razor is also different, in that the handle 2 is formed on its end with a square projection 22 adapted to fit in the square centrally disposed opening l9 formed in the base 4, and is formed with a threaded opening 23 adapted to receive the threaded screw 24, which when tightened secures and locks the handle to the razor, and the square lug 22 prevents twisting of the razor with respect to the handle.

Figs. 8, 9, and 10 illustrate a further simplified modification. This form constitutes a small compact razor device, requiring no separate handle, adapted to be carried in the pocket, wallet, or the like, similar in principle to the forms above described, and by reason of its additional simplified structural arrangement, effects a still further saving of material and production cost. It, like the other forms, is formed from a one-piece strip of metal and intermediate its length is bent upwardly at the spaced points 3 to form the base portion 4 and the side members '5, and inwardly and upwardly into substantially meeting engagement at a point in a vertical plane coincident with the longitudinal median line of said base portion, as at 25, forming the converging portions 26 and then folded upon itself as at 21 forming the downwardly extending overlying end blade portions 28 terminating in the parallelly sharpened cutting edges IZ positioned in operative cutting relation with respect to the slotted guard formation 29 of sides 5*. The opposite edges of the blade portions 28 are inclined or tapered inwardly from 21 as at 30, similar to II, to their cutting edges I2 at the rounded corners 3|, similar to I2, to prevent possibility of nicking the face or hands during the shaving operation, as heretofore explained. Said guard formation 29 is similar to the guard formation I3, except that the spaced parallelly extending slots 32 corresponding to slots I3, extend completely across the base portion 4*, sides 5 and a substantial distance beyond said sides upwardly into the inclined converging portions 26. This slotted formation not only tends to prevent clogging but also to facilitate cleaning during and following the shaving operation.

This form owing to its small size and simple, compact, and integral construction, whereby a handle and other attachable parts are eliminated, is especially adaptable for use by militar personnel, troops in the field, campers, and travelers in general.

From the above it is apparent that my razor invention without in anyway departing from the principle or scope thereof, is utilizable in different forms, each being constructed from a single piece of material folded upon itself to form a double edge blade shaving head, requiring no assembling of parts, operable with or without a handle as desired, neat and pleasing in appearance, simple in construction, compact in form, yet easily cleaned, manufacturable at a minimum cost, and efficient for the purposes intended.

Although in practice it has been found that the form of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings and referred to in the above description as the preferred embodiment is the most efficient and practical, yet realizing thatconditions concurrent with the adoption of the invention will necessarily vary, it is well to emphasize that various minor changes in details of construction, proportion and arrangement of parts, may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims without departing from or sacrificing any of the principles of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is metal, said sheet metal being bent to form a horiz'ontally disposed base portion, side members extending upward from the base portion, intermediate portions, and downwardly extending end portions terminating in cutting edges arranged in parallel guarded relation with respect to said side members.

2. A shaving head for a razor, comprising a piece of sheet metal, said sheet metal being bent to form a horizontally disposed base portion, side members extending upward from the base portion, intermediate portions, and downwardly extending end portions terminating in cutting edges arranged in parallel guarded relation with respect to said side members, said side members being slotted.

3. A razor structure, comprising a base portion, side portions extending upward from said base portion, said side portions forming guard means, intermediate upwardly converging portions, and end portions extending downwardly and outwardly from the converging portions terminating in parallel edges, the formation of the edges of said end portions adjacent said cutting edges being tapered to prevent nicking of the hands and face incident to the shaving operation.

4. A shaving head for a razor, comprising an integral piece of sheet metal, said sheet metal being bent to form a horizontally disposed base portion, side portions extending upward from the base portion, intermediate portions, and downwardly and outwardly extending end portions, the free edges of said end portions being formed to prpvide cutting edges, and said sides, base, and intermediate portions being formed with a plurality of out out portions.

5. A razor including a shaving head comprising a piece of sheet material, said material being formed to provide a base portion, upwardly extending side portions, inwardly and upwardly extending intermediate portions, and downwardly and outwardly extending end portions, the free edges of said end portions being formed to provide cutting edges, said edges being arranged in spaced guarded relation with respect to said side portions.

6. A razor including a shaving head comprisig a piece of sheet metal, said sheet metal being bent to form a base portion, upwardly extending side portions, inwardly extending intermediate portions in substantial parallelism with said base portion, and upwardly, outwardly and downwardly extending end portions, said side portions forming guard means, and the free edges of said end portions being formed with cutting edges, said edges being arranged in spaced guarded relation with respect to said side portions.

7. A razor structure constituting a shaving head comprising a piece of sheet material, said material being formed to provide a base portion, side members extending upward from the base portion, intermediate inwardly and upwardly extending portions, and outwardly and downwardly extending portions terminating in cutting edges, handle means, and cOacting means between said base portion and handle for elTecting rigid and detachable connection of the handle with said base portion.

8. A razor structure constituting a shaving head comprising a piece of sheet material, said material being formed to provide a base portion, a side member extending upward from the base portion, an intermediate portion, and a downwardly extending end portion, the free edge of said end portion being formed to provide a cutting edge, said edge being arranged in ofiset relation with respect to said side member.

OLIVER H. CLARKE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,489,460 Robertson Apr. 8, 1924 2,325,662 Clarke Aug. 3, 1943 

